IN IT TOGETHER Rookie aims to build on fine performance
coach — who delivered the club its first premiership in 2015, as well as two Nines titles. Now was the time to look within themselves and work out of the rut as a cohesive unit.
“Look, I think, you know, all you have to do is look at our comments over the last few days, Paul Green’s coach, he will be a coach,” Reibel said.
“Now is not a time to look at any one individual. Now it’s time to take ownership as a club and work together with getting the results that we know that we can achieve and that’s something that’s very important to us.
“So now’s the time for commitment, now’s the time for working together.” Reibel’s backing comes after Cowboys forward Josh Mcguire said it was “irresponsible” to blame anyone other than the playing group.
It was a stance fully supported by Reibel who said it was what was needed.
“That just shows leadership and it just reinforces our position about working together and supporting each other,” Reibel said.
IT was not the debut he wanted, but there was nothing that could take the pride away from Connelly Lemuelu.
The 21-year-old became the sixth player from the impressive 2016 state championship Keebra Park High side to make his NRL debut when he lined up on the wing for the Cowboys.
It proved to be a bittersweet moment for the young flyer after the Cowboys struggled against a meticulous Tigers in the 36-20 loss at Campbelltown Stadium.
It was through little fault of the big-bodied winger, who showed determination coming out of his own end with 85 metres from 12 carries.
It was also a breakthrough moment for Lemuelu, who left his family behind in New Zealand as a 15-year-old to chase a sporting dream in the Sunshine State.
But Lemuelu said there was no resting on the laurels of his debut game, with his sights set on improving on the field for the Cowboys.
And he will get the chance to do so, having be named again in Paul Green’s line-up to take on the Newcastle Knights.
“It is obviously a very proud moment for myself,” Lemuelu said. “I know all of my family was watching back in New Zealand and in Brisbane and Sydney.
“It was a proud moment but at the end of the day it is about the team, and we didn’t get the job done at the weekend.
“I thought I did my job, (but) there were a few things I could have been a bit better on. I think there was just some defensive stuff on my edge, right across the park really and a bit of chat as well that I could be a bit more vocal. Just little things like that, there is always room for improvement.”
It was a big step up for the Papatoetoe junior who played two years in the Tigers under-20s system before a season in the Bulldogs reserves and finally a shift to the Cowboys on a two-year deal.
While he showed his potential in the lower grades last season, it is a big step up to the NRL made only tougher by a lack of Queensland Cup competition this season.
But it is all part of a learning curve for a player the Cowboys believe has a bright future.
“The biggest thing I can take out of (the debut) was (that) it’s tough, it is a big step up from reserve grade,” he said.
“The speed of the game has gotten me a bit, it took me a while to adapt to. The lungs were feeling it a bit. We do a lot of fitness here while we don’t play but I don’t think it compares to that game fitness. You only get that when you are out there playing.
“The lungs were feeling it, but as soon as I got my second wind I was all right.”
Lemuelu and the Cowboys will kick-off against the Knights at 3pm at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.